I am new to these trucks, but I have always wanted to get a 1970's ford with a 460 and make it a long term project truck. It would be an offroad restoration truck. So it would be done nicely, but with big tires and would see offroad time at the sand dunes.

I came across this and and thinking about trying to get it. The guy is selling it with extra c6 and Tcase and extra bed. What you guys think about the deal? Truck is about 60miles from me.
1979 Ford F150 $1500 obo Ford 460! *MORE PICS ADDED* - Great Lakes 4x4

I like the short boxes more. I like the look and the shorter wheelbase would be good. Is it possible to convert the long box to short box? How difficult?

Any info will be appreciated
Thanks - James

 

Welcome to FTE

The engine has been swapped because Ford didn't offer a 460 4WD till 1983, and then only on F350's.

Engines available with 4WD 1977/79: 300 I-6 / 351M 2V / 400 2V.

If the floor pans are rusted out, the cab mounts will be rusted out, the frame will be rusty. It needs a ton of metal work, IMO it's way too much money.

Plus, you have no idea of the quality of workmanship that went into swapping that 460.

Are the spare parts any good?

 

I would not bother with making a LWB truck a SWB truck. Come to california and buy one of our gems for $1500 or so, and drive it home.

In regards to that truck. It looks like somebody put a little bit of time and money into it, but it also looks as if it has been ran hard and put away wet. Does that mean the truck is a beater, not necessarily, but it has been wrecked. The bed he is offering with the truck is a 73-76, with the inferior location of the fuel filler. I hate them ^$&^Y^( things.



Lets talk about the pros.
-460 swap. Doing this yourself would cost at least $600 assuming the motor was free. It has L&L fender exit headers, which run around $500.
-3" body lift
-Traction bars, cost $100-300 depending on whatever.
-Truck has a cherry looking 79 grille insert, hes selling for $50, worth more than that.
-Stout drivetrain

Cons
-body lift
-former use as a roll off tow truck
-floor boards rotting out, unknown hidden sins behind that paint.

Advice
If you have to have this truck, tell him $1500 WITH the swampers. He might have $2,000+ into the truck before he played air craft carrier, and did his first touch and go landing with that cherokee BUT now you have a truck with structural (potential) damage. Remind him of that. When you go to make the deal, dont go with a pocket full of money. Chances are the truck wont sell anytime soon. Christmas is coming, people are not working, money is tight, people are worried about loosing their job. If he wont throw in the tires for $1500, offer him $1000 for the truck. The truck is worth $1000 automatically, soley because its a 4WD. Chances are you might find a better truck, but this one isnt horrible messed up.

I'd throw in a sheetmetal patch in the floors, get out as much rust as you can get at, and undercoat the underside of the truck. If you want a SWB truck, the easiest way to accomplish that is to move the rear axle in, and put on a flatbed, chop off the rest of the frame you don't need. Finding a cherry SWB bed might be difficult unless you have some $$$.

 

I concur with Masterbeavis

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I am towards the end of my college career and should probably wait until I graduate, hopefully get a job and then have a more steady income to play with. Plus waiting will allow me to find a better truck to start with. Also if after college we happen to move south out of Michigan, that will offer me many more "no salt" possibilities. I already have a daily driver F150 with 33' MTZ's, so I do have a truck I can offroad right now.

I am open to any Fords with a 460 for this project. Which will end up being a long term project. I just think the big strong power would be awesome. "There is no replacement for displacement'. A single cab short box also. I also like the 80's and early 90's body style. The big square look is really cool I think.

What do you guys think about the possibilities for other motors? Since this will be a long term resto. I don't wan't regret not having the biggest strongest motor when I finish it. Also it seems that the 460 is very popular which means many extra scrap and aftermarket parts.

Thanks - James

 

Id try to work him down in price a bit but overall I think it would be worth it. Think of it this way, its got a lot of good parts and to buy them separate it would cost a lot more than his asking price. What I would do is get it and drive it like you want but in the mean time keep lookin for a nice short box truck. Then swap the parts over.

 

If you are liking the later trucks, I would get myself a 94-97 F150 with a 351W and mass air. With a few inexpensive upgrades, you have a good truck, that the ladies wont scoff at riding in.

 

I dont want anything to do with the ladies who DO scoff at my these rigs!

 

Well IMO my 2004 F150 is pretty nice and the ladies don't scoff at that.. I just want to build up a big "Muscle Car" type truck, if that makes any sense. I have heard the 460 can add a lot of hp with a few upgrades. How much power is a 351w capable of with upgrades? Also what real differences are there between the EFI fuel injected and carburated 460's?

Thanks

 

Have you ever heard of the lightning? '95 spec, 245 horsepower and 360 ft/lbs of torque from the factory. You can safely add 100HP with a supercharger....

 

welcome to FTE!

it LOOKS to be in the pics a solid body besides the bed. just remember that the frame is most likely bent.

the 460 is a great engine. the 73-79 trucks did come with 460s but those trucks were 2wd. as NumberDummy stated the 1st year for a 460 in a 4wd truck is 1983. with an aftermarket exhaust, headers, 4 BBL carb and intake, and a cam that 460 will be a pretty stout truck.

the 351W and 351C are in the same engine family as the 302, which came in the 5.0 mustangs.

460s will not get too many MPG whether its a carb or a fuel injected. 8 is about the norm.

my advice would be keep your eyes peeled. if you start to look around these trucks will begin to pop up.

good luck.